boehneractuallysaid it well. he said the mandate from the election of last week is for us to find a way to work together on solutions to the challenges we face as a nation. i can't agree more. elections have consequences and our ability to avert the fiscal cliff in which expiring tax cuts and across the board spending cuts are on the course to derail this economy requires us to respect that directive from voters. yet once again, lines are being drawn. you just heard it. over what types of revenue will be considered or what cuts are considered too steep. i hope was not the only one astounded by the comments of the c.e.o. of the american petroleum institute who recently said, quote, the oil and gas industry will not be singled out for punitive repeat, unquote. how fascinating. perhaps i could introduce him to the federal work force, our federal employees who are so far the only group to be singled out for punitive treatment to the tune of $75 billion of deficit reduction. they understand the principle of shared sacrifice and have patiently been waiting for everybody else to actually share